The Economics of Minority Language Identity

Abstract

ABSTRACT/RESUME The debate about whether identity helps or hinders social mobility is inconclusive because of differences in conceptualizing and measuring ethnic This paper examines how minority language, as one dimension of minority identity, changes, and what market returns it brings. Using the 1996 census microdata, the study finds substantial variations of non-official mother tongues and home languages, especially among foreign-born Canadians. By and large, non-official home languages and mother tongues produce net market penalties. whereas English mother tongue or home language yields positive net returns for men and women. The market disincentives associated with non-official languages and the incentives associated with English mother tongue or home language probably explain why minority languages decline in Canada in favour of English language. Despite the findings, the debate regarding identity and social mobility cannot be resolved without further examining the multi-dimensions of et hnic identity and how each influences economic outcomes. Le debat, a savoir si l'identite ethnique est benefique ou nefaste a la mobilite sociale, est concluant en raison des differences de la conceptualisation et des mesures de [much less than] l'identite ethnique [much greater than] L'auteur de l'article examine de quelle facon une langue minoritaire, en tant que dimension de l'identite minoritaire ethnique, change et quels en sont les effets. L'etude, qui repose sur des donnees du recensement de 1996, fait ressortir des ecarts considerables entre les langues maternelles non officielles et les langues parlees a la maison, surtout chez les Canadiens nes a l'etranger. Les langues maternelles non officielles et les langues parlees a la maison donnent certes lieu des penalites sur le marche alors que l'anglais comme langue maternelle ou langue parlee a la maison donne lieu a des avantages pour les hommes et les femmes. Les elements dissuasifs lies aux langues non officielles et les avantages lies a l'anglais comme langue maternelle ou utilisee a la maison expliquent pr obablement le declin des langues minoritaires au Canada en faveur de l'anglais. Malgre ces conclusions, le debat entourant l'identite ethnique et la mobilite sociale ne peut etre resolu sans examiner davantage les multiples dimensions de l'identite ethnique et de quelle facon chacune de ces dimension influe sur les resultats economiques. Social scientists have used different approaches in defining and measuring identity, and have come to conflicting conclusions regarding whether identity is a resource or a penalty for social mobility in Canadian society (Isajiw, Sev'er and Driedger, 1993; Kalbach and Kalbach, 1995). The controversy stems partly from the complexity in capturing the multidimensionality of identity, and partly from generalizing narrow interpretations based on different measurements of ethnicity or identity. Nevertheless, claims about whether identity improves or retards economic performance have serious theoretical implications. If identity contributes to economic betterment, then economic improvement also provides the material incentives for strengthening the preservation of identity. Conversely, if identity produces negative economic outcomes, such outcomes serve as penalties for maintaining a distinct identity, and its future retention is likely to be weakened. Rather than trying to study identity as an all-embracing concept in order to determine its multidimensional effects on an equally encompassing concept of social mobility, this paper examines a more focused dimension pertaining specifically to minority language identity in Canadian society. The purpose is to determine the extent to which non-official languages are being adopted as mother tongue and home language, and to examine the economic value of minority language identity in the labour market. …